DESIGNING WITH NATURE

Having plants inside your home doesn’t just look good it makes us feel good as well. When we get in touch with nature, we reduce mental fatigue and stress while increasing our relaxation and self-esteem. Plants also clean our indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity and producing oxygen. But how can you incorporate nature into the home so that it becomes a natural part of the furnishings?

This issue we look at a villa designed by the award-winning architectural and interior design company, UDesign, that is built around the central theme of a hanging garden. UDesign created a Zen-inspired garden on every level of the house using a central atrium rising more than eight metres from the basement to the top floor.

This hanging garden proved to be quite an engineering feat. Metal cables and an automatic pulley system allow specially made stainless steel pots to be set to the exact level needed for pruning, watering, and an occasional play on heights. The cables also allow for illumination, turning the hanging garden into a magical night-time spectacle.

The basement atrium was created as a place for reflection, spacious enough for a garden where you can sit down and relax. Inspired by the movie Avatar, UDesign took the concept of a magical centrepiece tree and gave it a Japanese twist, using a red miniature maple tree which provides a dramatic colour accent. This natural element extends beyond the garden onto the walls in the form of moss panels. One of them, circular with integrated LED lighting, brings even more greenery and light into the space, reminding us of a full moon rising over a tranquil landscape.